Hickey

/ˈhɪki/

Meaning & Definition

noun

a temporary mark or bruise caused by suction on the skin, often seen as a love bite.

She had a noticeable hickey on her neck after their romantic encounter.

a mark or flaw in a surface, often used in printing or manufacturing contexts.

The print had a hickey that ruined the otherwise perfect design.

Perhaps from the 1930s, associated with the act of 'hick', an informal term for a rural person.

love bite

A term often used synonymously with hickey, implying it is a mark of affection.

sucker mark

Another phrase for a hickey, highlighting the method of its creation.

bruise

An injury appearing as a discoloration on the skin from bleeding caused by trauma.

suction

The act of drawing in or pulling something through a vacuum or pressure.

A temporary mark or bruise left usually on the neck from passionate kissing.

He pulled her closer and gave her a hickey.

To create a hickey on someone's skin.

He couldn't resist hickeying her during their make-out session.